Lloyd Braun (born 1958) is an American media executive. He was the founder and CEO of Whalerock Industries, a Los Angeles based media and technology company.[1]
Braun began his career as an entertainment attorney. His clients included Larry David, Howard Stern and David Chase. The character Lloyd Braun on the sitcom Seinfeld, created by David, was named after him.[5] In an interview between Larry David and Howard Stern, David said that a conversation he had with Braun about Braun's father served as a "jumping-off point" for the writing of his Broadway play Fish in the Dark. David Chase credited Braun with encouraging him to create the TV series that eventually became The Sopranos.[6]
Brillstein Grey Entertainment
Braun left his law practice in 1994 to serve as President of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment until 1999, overseeing its motion picture, television and management divisions. At Brillstein-Grey, Braun oversaw the building of Brillstein’s television studio, and the development of such hit shows as “The Sopranos”, “Just Shoot Me” and "NewsRadio”.
American Broadcasting Company
Braun went on to serve as Chairman of Buena Vista Television Productions, overseeing Disney’s television studios, from 1999 to 2001, and then Chairman of ABC Entertainment Group from 2001-2004. He was forced out of his position at ABC shortly after greenlighting the $13 million pilot to the television show Lost, one of the most expensive in modern broadcasting. The script of Lost had been heavily criticized by Michael Eisner who was CEO of ABC's parent Disney; nonetheless, Braun pushed on with filming the pilot episode in Hawaii. Braun's decision was vindicated, however, when the show went on to become a huge success; Braun eventually joined the cast and crew of Lost, providing his voice to the intros of each episode with "previously on Lost".[7]
Braun and his partner, Susan Lyne, also greenlit other ABC shows that went on to great success in the years following his dismissal, including Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Boston Legal, The Bachelor and Grey's Anatomy. Braun also signed Jimmy Kimmel to ABC in 2002, and launched Jimmy Kimmel Live following the Super Bowl in 2003. These shows began an unprecedented turnaround for ABC.[8]
Yahoo! Media Group and Whalerock Industries
In November 2004, Braun joined Yahoo! to run Yahoo! Media Group, the company's content division. While at Yahoo!, Braun initiated and oversaw the development of the highly successful celebrity site OMG! Braun also developed the daily video show "The 9" and oversaw major redesigns of Yahoo!'s media sites. Braun resigned from Yahoo! in December 2006 to partner with Gail Berman to form the entertainment company BermanBraun.[9]
BermanBraun entered into a strategic alliance with NBC to create television programming for which NBC would have a first look. In August 2010, BermanBraun announced a multiyear partnership with Starcom MediaVest to create new digital content and advertising solutions available "first" to SMG clients. SMG is part of Publicis Groupe, the world's third-largest communications group. Since 2007, BermanBraun has established itself in content production, with properties across three platforms: television, digital and film. In scripted television, BermanBraun produced Alphas on the Syfy network. They also produced the second season of the unscripted series Brad Meltzer's Decoded for History Channel and Unchained Reaction, produced with MythBusters stars Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage for Discovery Channel. BermanBraun also launched two unscripted shows: Polyamory: Married & Dating for Showtime and Junk Gypsies for HGTV in 2012.[citation needed]
In March 2012, BermanBraun purchased Whiskey Media, acquiring the websites Tested, Screened, and Anime Vice. Tested was quickly redesigned and rebranded as MythBusters' Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage's personal website.
In February 2014, Braun became the sole owner of BermanBraun, renaming the company Whalerock Industries.[10]
Whalerock produced premium content for television, film and theater; owned and operated over a dozen digital brands; provided consulting services for media companies and brands; and partnered with influencers and brand owners - including Tyler the Creator and the Kardashians - to create, build and operate direct-to-consumer multi-media apps.
WME
From 2019-2023, Braun served as Chairman of the global talent agency WME and President of the Endeavor Client Group. In these roles, Braun oversaw all aspects of the representation businesses of Endeavor, including WME, WME Sports, IMG Models, The Wall Group and Art + Commerce. Braun led the agency thru the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, emerging with WME posting its strongest year on record for 2022.
Personal life
Braun has been married to his wife Lauren for over 40 years. They have four children and three grand children.
